We all know there’s nothing like the beauty of Michigan’s wild spaces — and previous generations knew it, too. From camping canoe expeditions at the turn of the last century to the “tin can tourists” (the very first car campers) in the early 1900’s to the emergence of travel trailers and beyond, folks have long sought respite and adventure in the Great Lakes State’s great outdoors.

We trawled a handful of archives to get a look back at what camping looked like to Michiganders who came before us; read on for a look at some of our favorite photos and to see how camping has evolved over the years.